It's all in the details - bedroom makeover

Embarking on my bedroom makeover, I anticipated a few weeks of work to transform the plain white box into my vision of a green and moody retreat. However, as the days turned into months, I realized that creating the perfect space required more time and attention to detail than I initially expected. But let me tell you, every moment spent was worth it. From the dark green walls to the carefully selected furnishings, every choice was made with intention. And it was the incorporation of gold unlacquered brass Nostalgic Warehouse doorknobs, switch plate covers, and door hinges that truly brought the room together, elevating it to a whole new level of elegance.

I've always been captivated by the allure of a dark green and moody bedroom, but have been a little afraid of going bold. The idea of transforming my room into a sanctuary of tranquility seemed worth it seeing how we have had all white walls in this room since we moved in and we were ready for a change. To achieve this desired ambiance, I knew that paying attention to even the smallest details would be crucial. That's why I chose to incorporate gold unlacquered brass hardware into my bedroom makeover. Its timeless elegance effortlessly blends with the dark green surroundings, infusing the space with a warm and inviting atmosphere. These intricate elements have truly brought my entire room together, creating a visually captivating and cohesive aesthetic.

When I stumbled upon Nostalgic Warehouse's collection, I was instantly captivated by their commitment to craftsmanship and attention to detail. The gold unlacquered brass doorknobs, switch plate covers, and door hinges exuded a sense of sophistication that perfectly aligned with my vision. Each piece showcased the dedication and artistry of the brand, reflecting a time when quality and beauty were paramount. By incorporating Nostalgic Warehouse hardware into my bedroom makeover, I've not only added a touch of luxury but also embraced the essence of timeless elegance, turning my space into a true sanctuary of style.

MUSIC THEMED FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY

I had a blast hosting family and friends for Quinnies first birthday party! It was by far the biggest group of people I’ve hosted and the most decor I’ve ever made. I DIY’d a bunch of items since I wanted a music themed party with pink, silver and orange. Every time I tried to find music party decor it was always in black and red so I had to make my own!

I kept the food super simple since I was spending the majority of my time prepping the house with decor. For food I didn’t want anything that had to stay hot or cold and I needed to accommodate both meat eaters and vegans. Because of this, I did a make your own sandwich bar with vegan and regular meat, cheese, and condiment options. I also had a relish tray, fruit, pre-made dips, and potato salad. For drinks I had sweet tea, OJ, Processco, Beer, water, and punch. For dessert I made two kinds of cupcakes - this box funfetti cake with vanilla icing, and this recipe for an AMAZING vegan chocolate cake.

I always want to have activities for everyone to do so we had a “decorate your own maraca station” with stickers, a temporary tattoo station with music themed tattoos, a bounce house in the front yard, and our playroom was open to use as well.

The goody bags were tailored to each child because some kids were older, some were toddlers, and we even had some infants. I collected packs of stuff here and there for MONTHS, always popped into the Dollar Tree every time they changed seasons, and bought stuff all over the internet. I had SO much fun making each bag for each child.

Let’s be honest, decor was my main focus! I spent months making the ceiling streamers, the backdrop, the highchair streamers, the custom cupcake face toppers, and shopping around collecting items that matched the theme.

To see how I made the fringe backdrop from plastic tablecloths, click here.

To see how I made the ceiling streamers, click here.

Everything I could find is linked here:

• Disco Balls

• Balloon Arch

• First birthday milestone sign

• Music note balloons

• Disco Ball Balloons

• 40” Silver Letter Balloons

• Pink Happy Birthday Balloon Banner

• Balloon Pump

• AB/CD Printable

• Star plates

• Star Napkins

• Plastic Maracas

• Stickers to decorate maracas from Dollar Tree, similar linked here

• Temporary Tattoos (here, here, and here) I removed any that weren’t age/theme appropriate.

• Small signs for drink station and food

• Spandex Tablecloth

• Party favor bags, similar linked her

• Display risers for food

• Music Note Confetti

• Silver Star Cutouts for Table Decor

• Sequin Table Runner

• Music Note Food Forks

• Guitar Food Tray

• Hot Pink Cupcake Lines

• Silver Glitter Cupcake Wrappers

• Custom Cake Topper

• Pastel Sprinkles, similar linked here

• Smiley Face Confetti - Dollar Tree but similar linked here

• Monthly Photo Banner

• Quinns Star Dress

• Quinns Crown
  

Gift Guide - 12-18 months (and beyond)

Whether you’re buying for a birthday or holiday, these are our go-to toys for 1 years old that won’t disappoint.

Want to skip the post and go straight to my Amazon list? Click here.

PLAY KITCHEN & ACCESSORIES:

• Play kitchens can range from small to large and the price points vary. We have the IKEA kitchen that I revamped here, but Target and Amazon both sell several options.

• Cooking sets are a must! Here are a few of my favorites. Here, here, and here.

• What would a kitchen be without food and appliances? Sure you can buy a big bag of plastic food, but why do that when you can have an ice cream set, a lemonade set, baked goods, a toaster, a stand mixer, a kettle, cuttable fruits and veg, and so much more.

disclaimer: Some toys need parental supervision and/or items from these sets may need to be removed to make some of these toys age appropriate. Use your best judgment on what is safe or not safe for your family.

LOVEVERY KITS:

We have used the Lovevery Play Kits for months now and absolutely love them! This is absolutely a gift that keeps on giving. Each kit is tailored to the age of the child and includes several toys that are incredibly well made. We are currently using The Babbler Play Kit and Quinn LOVES it!

BALL PIT :

Dare I say this is the most used toy we have? I think it might be. In fact, I’m prettttty sure it is. We have this ball pit and four packs of these balls.

WALKER BIKE:

Quinn has been using this walker bike for months already and has just started to use her feet all by herself. It’s a must! It comes in six different colorways. We also have the Strider bike that is currently on the rocking base.

JEEP WITH PARENTAL CONTROL REMOTE

This is a splurge, but SO fun! We have this exact Jeep and Quinn loves it! She’s too small to steer so we use the parental remote to control it for her. It works like a charm in our hilly lawn over grass and concrete. Highly recommend!

Need more toddler gift ideas? Click here!

DIY Fringe Backdrop

Ready for a super easy and super cheap DIY that will take FOREVER?! haha! This is definitely one of those show stopper pieces for a party, but you will spend many nights tying lots and lots of knots!

SUPPLIES:

• $1 plastic table cloths. I got mine from the Dollar Tree and Walmart.

• Cutting mat and rotary cutter with extra blades (you can use scissors, but wow it will take a lot longer)

• *Plastic* Poultry Netting

• Zip ties

• Command Hooks 5lbs

• Optional : something to hang the backdrop on until you’re ready to install it. I used an old backdrop stand, but I would assume you could work directly on the wall using Command Hooks.

DIRECTIONS

1. Decide how big you want your backdrop to be. I cut the poultry netting into large pieces and fastened them together with zip ties. I also zip-tied the poultry netting to an old backdrop stand.

2. Cut roughly 1-2” strips of plastic table cloths. No need to measure or unfold them. You can literally just use a rotary cutter and cut strips very quickly.

3. Unfold each individual strip until you have A LOT. I would recruit someone to help you.

4. Tie one strip at a time to the poultry netting by folding the strip in half and feeling the tail end through the loop. (example below)

5. Continue until you achieve the desired look you want.

6. Trim any pieces as necessary.

7. Use several 5lbs command hooks to install the backdrop to the wall.

8. TA-DA! Admire your work!

FAQ:

• How big is your backdrop? Mine is roughly 8x8ft

• How many tablecloths did you use? I didn’t count but I estimated that I used about 60.

• How long did this take? Roughly 10 hours for one person.

• Can I use scissors instead of a rotary cutter? Yes! It will just take a little longer.

Ikea Duktig Play Kitchen Makeover

I stressed over this project before I started and let me say, it was SO fun to do. The Ikea Duktig Play Kitchen is $99. It’s a very simplistic design so the options to change it up are endless! You could spend as little or as much money as you want to customize it. I bought all of my materials at Home Depot, Amazon, and my enemy - Spray Polycrylic from Lowes. 😅

I tried to be as detailed as possible about each step, but if you have any questions you can comment below or DM me on Instagram.

MATERIALS:

• Ikea Duktig Play Kitchen

• 80 Grit and 320 Grit Sandpaper that I used both by hand and with my Orbital Sander

• Zinsser BIN White Shellac Spray - I used 2 1/2 cans

• Rustoleum Spray Paint in Champagne Bronze - 1 can

• Minwax Polycrylic Spray 1-2 cans in Clear Matte and the regular can half-pint in Satin (they didn’t have matte)

• Behr Chalk Paint 1 qt tinted in Dusty Laurel. (This chalk paint can only be tinted in certain colors).

• Behr Dark Walnut Transparent Water-Based Wood Stain 8oz

• Optional : Polyshades in Mission Oak for the cane webbing. It will NOT work on the countertop. I don’t think you need this product but it’s what I used before I discovered the above stain.

• Staining Cloth (I also tried a staining sponge but much prefer the cloths. I just used a glove with the cloths).

• 6” paint roller, with a 6” roller frame, and a 7” roller tray.

• Paint brush - this one that I had on hand.

• Wooden dowel in 1/2” cut to 26” long.

• Staple Gun and 1/4” long staples

• Thin piece of 1/4” 2’x4’ plywood for backsplash (or foam board that you could use peel and stick tiles)

• Painters tape

• Replacement wooden knobs and handles from Amazon

• 24” Cane Webbing (2 feet) from Amazon

• Gorilla Glue Construction Adhesive

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE VENEER PIECES (EXCEPT COUNTERTOP):

1. Do NOT assemble the kitchen until the end. This makes sanding, painting, and sealing A BREEZE.

2. Remove the acrylic plastic from the microwave and oven piece. I banged it out with a hammer in the grass.

3. Lightly sand all of the flat wood/veneer pieces with 80 grit sandpaper. Remove dust.

4. Lightly spray all of your wood/veneer pieces (except the countertop) with the BIN shellac spray. Let dry, flip over, spray the other side.

5. Roll the chalk paint on to the pieces. Two coats each side. Let dry and flip and do two coats on the other side. Don’t forget about the edges.

6. Seal with Polycrylic. I brushed on and used the spray to see which I liked better. I think the spray quickly followed by a dry roller brush is my fav.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE COUNTERTOP:

1. Sand the countertop with 80 grit sandpaper until you remove the finish. If you tilt your head in the light you should see it dulling until there is no more shiny coating. Sand again with 320 grit until you get a smooth finish. Remove dust.

2. Shake you stain well. Dip your staining cloth and apply the stain in the direction of the grain (side to side). I lightly sanded it again with 320 grit, dusted it off, and applied one more coat of stain.

   This part was so easy and I think it looks BEAUTIFUL!!

INSTRUCTIONS FOR HANDLES, KNOBS, AND DOWEL RAIL:

1. I ended up buying new handles, knobs for below the stove, and replacing the metal rod with a wooden dowel.

2. Sand all of these pieces with 80 grit by hand to remove the shine. Sand again with 320 grit to smooth down. I just used two of the sanding sheets for my orbital sanded and used it by hand. Remove dust.

3. Apply the stain with your staining cloth. 1-2 coats. It should be dry within minutes.

4. Spray with LIGHT sprays of Polycrylic. The spray is INCREDIBLY spitty. You must also do VERY light coats to avoid drips. I just set them up and would walk by every now and then to do another light coat of Polycrylic.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CANE WEBBING:

1. Stain the cane with the staining cloth and liquid stain. Let dry.

2. Soak in luke-warm water for at least 30 minutes.

3. Apply with staple gun and 1/4” staples.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR STOVE:

1. Use painters tape to tape off the top area that you don’t want touched, leaving the grey edge exposed.

2. Spray grey edge with black spray paint. Let dry.

3. Spray with Polycrylic.

4. Remove painters tape.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE HOOKS, PLASTIC LEGS, AND FAUCET:

1. I’m not sure if I should have used the BIN primer first, but I didn’t. I just sprayed them with two coats of the Champagne Gold Spray Paint.

2. I did several LIGHT coats of the Spray Polycrylic letting it dry in-between coats.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE BACKSPLASH:

1. Cut a piece of thin wood or foam board into 26 5/8” x 12 3/8”

2. I used a thin piece of wood I found in the clearance section at Home Depot and painted it with some leftover Iron Ore Matte paint and sealed it with the Polycrylic.

3. Nail the backsplash onto the kitchen with 3/4” brad nails.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SINK ( a disaster!) :

1. Well, this is where I made my one and only big mistake. I sprayed the sink with black appliance epoxy spray paint and as I was walking outside to see it in the daylight after it dried and I BARELY scratched it on the door. No big deal since I planned to undermount the sink. I proceeded to sprayed it with Polycrylic and THIS was the first time I was using the spray and realizing how spitty it was. First, you need SUPER light coats. Well, I didn’t know that yet, so I sprayed it on like spray paint and it started to puddle inside of the sink. This is also when I realized the spray was SO spitty. I ended up trying to sand the paint off and I gouged the HECK out of the sink. I tried so hard to save it. The gouges I made while trying to remove that spray paint and polycrylic are obviously still there but oh well!

2. MY SOLUTION: Well, turns out you can’t buy a replacement sink so someone on reddit recommend using an 8 inch pan so that’s what I did but didn’t love how it looked. Remember, there is always a solution and DIYs don’t always go as planned. I ended up painting the original sink one more time with the black Appliance Epoxy spray paint.

3. If under-mounting, attach the original sink with Gorilla construction adhesive. You don’t need much!

Once you have prepped all of the above it’s time to assemble it!!

1. Drill holes for your “stove knobs”. We covered the area with painters tape to mark where we wanted the knobs to go. Drilled using 5/32” drill bit. Use screws that came with the knobs.

2. Attach the cane webbing with a staple gun and 1/4” long staples to the back of the microwave and stove pieces. I added some left over thin wood that I bought for the backsplash to cover the back of the cane in hopes of stopping my toddler from poking right through the holes. You could also use a sheet of acrylic.

3. Follow the Ikea directions to assemble the kitchen.

4. To under-mount the sink you can glue it or screw it in. We glued it using Gorilla Glue Construction Adhesive.

Now you can accessorize with adorable kitchen items!

Cord and Blood Banking

Cord blood and tissue banking - what is it and why did we do it? If you’re like me, I saw the advertisements for cord blood banking all over my pregnancy apps. After my husband and I researched the science behind it, the benefits of it helping with 80+ treatments, and the potential for even more treatments - we decided to have it done. I’m going to discuss why we did it, which company we chose to use, and the process.

Full disclosure, I’m going to paraphrase a lot of the info for the first part directly from the HealthBanks website because let’s be honest, they are WAY better at explaining it than I am.

WHAT IS IT:

Cord blood is collected from the umbilical cord and contains red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Most importantly, it contains a rich source of stem cells. These young stem cells are able to change into other cells and replicate themselves making cord blood stem cells the ideal choice for transplantation and disease treatment.

Cord Tissue contains a different type of stem cells that are able to differentiate into various tissues and organ cells, including cardiac, nerve, cartilage/bone, and muscle cells. Because cord tissue is still in the experimental phase, it has great future potential for the use in treatment of conditions such as cancers, heart disease, diabetes, strokes, spinal cord injuries, and more

WHY DID WE DO IT:

As of today cord blood stem cells can treat over 80 diseases including cancers, metabolic disorders, immune and blood related diseases. However, doctors see more potential and are currently researching the use of cord blood to treat other diseases including diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and more.

THE COMPANY WE USED:

We used a company based in California called HealthBanks. They use cutting edge technology to collect and preserve the cells, they have been in business for over 20 years, they offer a $50,000 guarantee, and provide their own research program.

OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE PROCESS:

We originally chose the cord blood package, but my doctor sent both the blood and the tissue in the box so HealthBanks asked if we wanted to upgrade our package and we did. See more about their packages here. They are the industries most affordable cord blood and cord tissue banking services, starting at $19.99/month.

For us the process was ridiculously easy. Once we enrolled, the kit was sent to us and I put it in my hospital bag immediately. At my next OB appointment I told my midwife we would be doing it and she simply said “ok great!” As we got closer to my due date, I made sure to remind my midwife and instructed Zach to ensure the box was given to her as soon as I started labor. The box is completely sealed and is not to be opened by anyone other than your doctor at the time of delivery. An email was sent to me with instructions on what to do so I kept it easily accessible to reference (well, for my husband to reference) after delivery. My 12 hour vaginal labor quickly turned into a c-section and a new doctor delivered my baby. She was familiar with cord blood banking and handled all of it with no problem. A nurse sealed the box up while in the recovery room, my husband called the number on the box, and someone arrived at our hospital within an hour or so to pick up the box! I was shocked at how seamless and easy the collection process was. I received an email the very next day from HealthBanks confirming they received my box. You can read more about the process here.

HOW TO ACCESS THE CORD BLOOD AND TISSUE IF YOU EVER NEED IT:

Give HealthBanks Client Services a call at (888)-379-2670 and they will work with you and your doctor!

MY BREASTFEEDING AND C-SECTION RECOVERY MUST HAVES

I’ve officially been a mom for 5 weeks - hooray! I have listed my “must haves” for breastfeeding and c-section recovery. By no means do I think everyone needs all of these items, but this is everything that I could think of that I used in the past 5 weeks! My c-section was unexpected so if you do have additional recovery items waiting for you at home, I suggest waiting to open them until after birth. I was able to return several unopened items to Target that I had purchased/been gifted that I thought I would use after giving birth vaginally.

BREASTFEEDING MUST HAVES:

For reference, I exclusively breastfeed and have not pumped since giving birth (yet). I did practice using my Motif Luna with battery pump that I got for free with my insurance through Aeroflow (with my Midwifes permission) at 38 weeks for about five minutes which I highly recommend doing if you’re allowed because the sucking sensation is bizarre and uncomfortable at first. I also started using my pump again for short periods of time (10-20 minutes) to try and induce labor around 39 weeks and again at 40 weeks. The sensation became more normal feeling by 40 weeks and made me feel more comfortable putting her to the breast for the first time after birth. Always consult with your own OB/Midwife before doing these things.

• Nursing Pads (washable and disposable) : I use these for daytime because they are soft, I use these for overnight (not as soft but hold a lot more), and I have these disposable ones as backup but I prefer to use washable.

• Nipple Butter : This Earth Mama (at Target or Amazon) was my everything until I got a nipple shield. I used this in the hospital and at home.

• Button Down Nightshirt : I personally did not like ANYTHING over my c-section incision for several weeks so I wore button down nightshirts (here, here, and here) in a size large or a robe when visitors came to see the baby.

• Breast Care : During the first few weeks my nipples and boobs hurt (and this was even after seeing MULTIPLE lactation consultants who said we had a fantastic latch) so I recommend having these things on hand to help as much as possible. Give your boobs some TLC because they are working hard and are experiencing a constant sensation that they have never felt before. I used Medela breast soothing pads, Frida Mom Lactation Massager, a fillable ice pack (a fillable one doesn’t melt all over you and you don’t have to wait for it to freeze), and 3 days after Quinn was born my lactation consultant recommended these nipple shields and they saved my entire breastfeeding experience (without these I may have quit or just been absolutely miserable).

• Haakaa : The Haakaa is great for using on the side you’re not nursing on. You will be shocked by how much leakage you can save and put in the freezer that would otherwise be totally wasted.

• Breastmilk Storage Bags : These storage bags come with an organizer so you can keep them tidy in your freezer.

• Burp Cloths : I actually don’t use these to burp her because she doesn’t spit up (at least she doesn’t right now) but I reach for these muslin burp clothes over all of my others every single day by my bed and on the couch to clean the milk off the nipples shield, clean her face, and to clean up any dripping or leaking from my boobs.

• Nursing Tanks to wear under clothes to easily feed using the “two shirt method.” I have 3 different brands and I like them all - Leaxy tank comes with my favorite breast pads and is a small company that gives back to Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association, I also have this pack from Amazon, and this cami from Target.

• Nursing Bras : I LOVE these for sleeping, this one is my favorite wireless, soft, and most normal looking/pretty bra, this one from Lively is also nice and neutral, and this pack is just your boring but comfortable nursing bras that serve their purpose but aren’t the cutest.

• Nursing Pillow : I have the Boppy with a waterproof cover and these regular covers that fit over it for easy washing. I also have the MyBreastFriend which is more comfortable but I only just started using it after my c-section incision started feeling better and I only use it during the day because the Boppy is easier to slip on and use in the middle of the night.

C-section POSTPARTUM MUST HAVES:

• Adult diapers : I used both the Walgreens ones and some from Target - loved them both! I used these when I got home and skipped the giant pads and mesh undies I wore in the hospital. I did roll them down because I didn’t like anything on my c-section incision for a few weeks.

• Pads : When the blood gets lighter I switched to Always Thin Pads

• Belly Bandit : A Belly Bandit was recommended to me from my doctor as I was laying on the table getting a c-section - haha! I ordered this one and they so kindly gave me a 10% off code for you guys - MAELUTZZ10

• Flushable wipes or a peri bottle - you want to feel as fresh as possible with all of that blood. I used the hospital provided peri bottle in the hospital and switched to flushable wipes at home.

I hope this list helps some of you! Remember we all experience birth differently, experience breastfeeding differently, and heal differently. These items are what I used, but trust me I have even more than this that I didn’t end up using. However, when you’re in pain you’ll be happy to have a selection to choose from when it’s 3am and you just need SOMETHING to make you feel better. My biggest tip is buy what you think you might use and don’t open it until you need it. This way you can return whatever you don’t use. Good luck!!

CLICK HERE TO READ MY FIRST MONTH NEWBORN MUST HAVES

Image by Jason Holland

NEWBORN MUST HAVES (FIRST 4 WEEKS)

I’m back again with a complete list of items we used in Quinns first month of life! Every parent is different, and every baby is different but these are the items we have used in her first four weeks. If something is straight forward I’ll just link the item, but if we use an item for a specific reason I’ll list why so you can see if that scenario seems right for you as well.

NIGHTTIME/SLEEP

• Arms up Swaddle : We switched to this one on night two at home because she could roll on her side and it scared the heck out of me! She was born with a large head (don’t worry she is back down to 52 percentile - haha) and the arms up swaddle keeps her head from rocking her to the side.

• Halo Bassinet with this mattress cover (x2) and the SOFTEST sheets : She sleeps in her bassinet exclusively at night and I LOVE it. It swivels 360 degrees, has mesh sides incase she were to ever get pressed up against the sides she could still breathe, the side comes down to place her in, and the adjustable height allows you to have baby right next to you in bed.

• Hatch Sound Machine : I know this seems like an expensive purchase but I love it so much. You can make multiple custom settings so all you have to do is tap the top. For example, I have three settings set up for nighttime feeding - sound + brighter light, sound + dimmer light + and sound with no light. You can also use it when they are older and make a setting for colorful lights to come on and off to tell them when it’s time to get up.

• Owlet Sock : Lots of controversy around this item but we are big fans.

• Zipper PJs : Double zip PJs or magnetic Pjs all of the way!

• Travel baby monitor : I use this baby monitor when she naps in her bassinet during the day and will take it when we start traveling. No wifi needed!

• Books : I highly recommend asking your baby shower host to do “books instead of cards” because we have a great library of books now and reading to her at night is our favorite time of day! I also got a library card and have stocked up on more books to read to her because that’s how much we love it.

• Crib / mattress / sheets: she has technically taken one nap in her crib so I’m listing that, the mattress, waterproof cover, sheet, and monitor (I don’t love the monitor to be honest).

BATHTIME

• Bathtub

• Water Thermometer : This gives me peace of mind knowing the water is the right temp. We use it every time.

• Shampoo : Your choice on what you use, but this is what we currently have.

• Swaddle Blanket : We use a swaddle blanket in her bath and she loves it. She screamed before we started doing this. This is my favorite swaddle brand here but any swaddle blanket will do!

• Rinse cup

• Spout Cover

• Kneeler and Elbow Rest

• Toy Bin for bath toys that drains the water out.

• Bathtoys

COMFORT/PLAY

• Solly Wrap : These wraps take some learning to use, but I love them because it keeps baby warm and snuggled up against you like they were in the womb. Perfect especially when they are super new.

• Ergo Carrier : We only started using this now because she is getting used to life outside of the womb and is more aware.

• Boppy with Covers : We use the Boppy, the waterproof cover, and the regular cover for feeding and to prop her up for tummy time.

• Bouncer : Hands down my most used item!! It’s incredibly compact, can be folded flat, and she loves it!

• Swing : Not her or my favorite item (because it’s massive), but we occasionally get her to use it.

• Lovevery playgym : (shop here or on Amazon) This gets used EVERY day - we love it so much I have this extra sensory strand to go with it! I know it’s pricey but it comes with mirrors, black and white cards, tons of sensory items and can be turned into a tent.

• Oball Rattle

• Safari Block from WeeGallery

• Mombella Mushroom

• Musical Star Toy

• Crinkle Book for entertainment out and about

DIAPERING

• Diaper rash cream : We tried several but are liking this one the best so far.

• 2 sizes of diapers : Find what diapers work best for you but hold off on opening your newborn ones until you know for sure your baby can fit in them. Quinn was 9lbs+ so she used newborn diapers for a veryyyy short amount of time. You can exchange any unused diapers at Target.

• Diaper Cream Spatula : We keep the large one at her changing table in her nursery and the smaller one in the changing basket in our room. I’m about to buy another small on for my diaper bag.

• Ava + Oliver Changing Mats : We love these vegan leather changing mats! So easy to wipe clean. We have three of them!

• Wipes : So far Water Wipes and Sensitive Wipes are our favorites.

• Ubbi Diaper Pail - We have no issues with smell and you don’t need special bags.

• Wipe Dispenser from Ubbi

• Plum and Sparrow Changing Basket : This is the one in her room.

• Diaper Caddy : We keep this in our room for middle of the night feeds and change her on our bed. During the day we change her in her room at the changing table. It holds our diapers, diaper cream, diaper cream spatula, changing mat, and wipes.

TRAVEL

• Carseat : The Pipa Lite LX - At the time of writing this our carseat is the lightest on the market. Love it!

• Everyday Stroller : I LOVE our Nuna Triv stroller. It folds up with one hand.

• Jogging Stroller : We use this jogging stroller with the Nuna carseat adaptor.

• Car Camera

• Car Seat Protector

• Freshly Picked Diaper Bags : This is my everyday bag and I just got this one to use if I need something that looks more like a purse. Both are vegan leather!

• Stroller Bag - it’s washable!

• Travel Sound Machine - used this in the hospital, in her room, and I take it with us.

• Travel Wipes Case that I keep in my diaper bag

MISC

• Nail Trimmer : Using clippers is scary so I recommend this nail trimmer 100%!

• Neeva Sanitizer : You definitely don’t need a sterilizer this big, but I do use it often and like it.

• Newborn Milestone Discs : I use these for cute photos.

• Burp cloths : I have several but these are my favorite so far.

• Booties : I use these booties from Amazon and these booties from Goumi (code MAE for 15% off) way more than socks.

• Hats : babies need to stay warm and I used these hats - here, here and here.

• Thermometer : this one and this rectal one.

• Fan : We used this fan when it was still warm outside. Mostly for me, haha, but I plan to attach it to her stroller when it gets hot again.

CLOTHING

• I like to dress up Quinn! Click here for my Amazon clothing finds, Goumi Kids (code MAE for 15% off), and my LTK.

FEEDING

• See this blog post for a complete list of my breastfeeding items!

MAMA RECOVERY ITEMS

• See this blog post for a complete list of my c-section recovery items!